dank

Dank is an English adjective with both historical and contemporary senses that vary by context. Traditionally, it described something damp, humid, and often unpleasantly moist, as in a dank cellar or basement. In general usage, dank can still convey moisture and chill in reference to physical spaces, though the word has largely shifted in everyday speech.

The modern slang sense of dank emerged from cannabis culture, where it described high-potency or high-quality marijuana. This positive sense of dank spread into broader slang, where it can mean impressive, excellent, or appealing in a way that stands out from the ordinary.

Dank also plays a prominent role in internet culture through the term dank memes. Beginning in the late 2000s and accelerating in the 2010s, dank memes are memes that are intentionally distinctive, ironic, or surreal, often relying on layered humor or subversion. In this context, dank can describe both the meme’s quality and its ability to provoke strong or novel reactions. The word has since broadened to describe content with a strong, distinctive vibe, sometimes irrespective of its humor.

Usage varies by region and community, and the positive slang sense is informal and predominantly found in online or youth speech. In formal writing, the contemporary slang meanings are generally avoided, while the original sense of dampness remains a valid, neutral description of physical conditions.